Arctic Expedition Course, 5 Days, Norway

From: £1,470

On our Arctic Expedition Course you’ll learn how to trust yourself and your equipment, survive outdoors in low temperatures and be well prepared for the challenge of your first real winter tour or polar expedition. We guarantee you a steep learning curve, spectacular winter landscapes and bags of fun.

Arctic Expedition Course

ABOUT THE COURSE

Have you ever dreamed of skiing to the North or South Pole? Do you want to know what it takes to plan, prepare and train for a polar expedition? Our arctic expedition training courses tap into the deep knowledge of Arctic Training & Expeditions experienced polar guides. Through 4 days of intensive training you will learn how to trust yourself and your equipment, survive outdoors in low temperatures and be well prepared for the challenge of your first real winter tour or polar expedition. We guarantee you a steep learning curve, spectacular winter landscapes and bags of fun!

The Arctic Expedition Course is lead by polar experts in the majestic mountains of Trondelag on the Norwegian / Swedish border. This is only a 45min transfer from Trondheim airport (TRD) an airport very well connected directly with several European cities or vie Oslo airport (OSL).Meraker is a small mountain village famous for raising Olympic cross-country skiers and biathletes.

The Arctic Expedition Course is based on the knowledge acquired by generations of pioneering Norwegian polar explorers. Through a mix of indoor seminars and outdoor tutorials, you will pick up dozens of expert tips and tricks on how to survive and thrive in cold arctic-like conditions. To complement the technical learning and practical skills we’ll coach you in backcountry skiing, a critical skill for any aspiring polar explorer.

After completing this course you will know what it takes to participate in a winter expedition. You will have learned about your own strengths and limitations and be better prepared to plan your own winter tour or take the next step and join a commercial polar expedition.

Who is the course for?

The course is designed for those who have a limited time window to learn the basics of preparing, planning and executing a polar expedition. In essence, we offer a “polar expedition crash course” that delivers the key skills required by anyone of average fitness considering arctic or polar exploration.

You do not need to have polar expedition ambitions to participate in the course. If you are 18-65 years of age, average fit with a motivation to learn how to manage camping out in full winter, the course is definitely for you.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN ON THE COURSE

Clothing

What to wear and what not. Type of materials. How to combine different layers (base-, mid- and outer layer) for best performance and comfort and temperature control in cold and extreme environments. How to prevent frostbite on hands and face. Different facemasks and mitts. Footwear (ski boots and camp footwear), socks, vapour barrier systems.

Cross Country Skiing and Equipment

Pulks and Harnesses

Different types of pulks and harnesses. Packing and weight distribution:

Tents

Preferred tents for polar expeditions. Features you are looking for and how to make your tent expedition ready.

Camping

Snow conditions suited and not suited for camping. The orientation of tents for maximum safety. How to put up your tent in a storm. How to protect your tent in a storm. How to organize your tent and camp to maximize comfort and safety and minimize waste of energy Tent routines.

We will spend our first night in either a rustic mountain lodge or hotel close to the border between Norway and Sweden. The following morning we’ll check and pack our gear before heading out into the mountains for 2 nights of camping. From now on everything we do is “expedition style”. The experience mirrors the experience of a real expedition. Our equipment, tents, food and routines will be exactly how we would do it on a real expedition and with no short-cuts we make sure that you get the maximum outcome of the course. On the last night of the course (Saturday), we return to a comfortable lodge to enjoy a nice hot shower and relaxing beer before swapping memories and photos of the intensive training weekend over a delicious group meal.

0800 Breakfast 0900 Packing food, stoves, tents etc in our sleds. 1200 Heading for the wilderness. Lunch on the trail. We usually ski only 3-5km the first day to reach the camp rested and ready to make a perfect camp before dusk. This afternoon we will go through every detail on how to put up your expedition tent and prepare for a comfortable night outdoors. 2 persons will be sharing a 3-man tent. We want every tent-team to be fully comfortable on how to put up and secure their tent in even the worst conditions. You will get lots of tips & tricks on how to organize your tent for both safety and comfort. We will go through how to lit and repair a stove, melting snow for water, food/nutrition and sleeping systems. The tent-teams will be encouraged to be responsible and self-going with the camping routines for the rest of the trip.

Usually, on day 2 we will have some time in the evening for a night skiing trip with headlamps or even making a bone fire in the woods to share stories and experiences.

0730 Wake up and breakfast in the tents 1000 Breaking camp and packing all equipment in our sleds. This day we will do a longer skiing tour with our sleds to our next campsite. This skiing trip can be 10-20 km depending on the snow conditions. Arriving at this days campsite we want the group to be equally tired but not exhausted. We should always save some energy to put up the camp. This afternoon you will hone your skills in putting up the tent, organizing your stuff and preparing for yet a comfortable night outdoors. Today you will realize how much you`ve already learned and that things are starting to be more natural and easy. You feel safe and more comfortable and your routines are done with a lot more self-confidence and efficiency.

0730 Wake up and breakfast in the tents 1000 Breaking camp and packing all equipment in our sleds. This day we will do a longer skiing loop with our sleds back to where we started. This skiing trip can be 10-20 km depending on the snow conditions. Today we will improve our skiing technique and feel at home with the routines of 50min of skiing/10 min breaks just as we do on expeditions. You will enjoy skiing through the stunning landscape but also looking forward to the short breaks of hot chocolate, water and snacks. In the afternoon we`ll come back to the lodge. The tour is not over until sleds are unpacked and equipment is set to dry. After a warm shower we`ll chill out and debrief over a cold soda/beer and celebrate the course over a very nice meal.

Activity Level: Challenging

You should be relatively fit and active. Expect to push yourself a little on these.

You do not need to have polar expedition ambitions to participate in the course. If you are 18-65 years of age, average fitness with a motivation to learn how to manage camping out in full winter, the course is definitely for you.

We operate with a guide ratio of 1:4 to make sure that every client is supported at their own level.

Fly into Trondheim Airport (Trondheim Lufthavn Værnes), and we will meet you at the airport. You will need to arrive at the airport no later than 16:00 (4 pm). We will meet you at Starbucks in the entrance hall. Then a 45min transfer to the mountain lodge which will be our base for the first night.

There is also a hotel at the airport if you arrive early, and need a place to stay. We’ll be happy to assist you on how to get here!